On 4 April 2024, the salary requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa increased significantly. However, to protect those already on this immigration path, the Home Office has introduced crucial transitional arrangements. If you were first sponsored for your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) visa before this date, you benefit from a much lower and more favourable set of salary rules when you come to extend your visa or update it for a new job.
Understanding and correctly applying these transitional rules is essential for a successful application. Misinterpreting which salary threshold applies to you is a major risk. Our team of specialist immigration advisors are experts in these nuanced transitional arrangements. We provide a meticulous assessment of your visa history to ensure you benefit from these lower salary requirements, safeguarding your continued stay in the UK.
Are You Eligible for the Transitional Salary Rules?
You are eligible for these more favourable salary requirements if you meet both of the following conditions:
- Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for your first Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) visa was assigned to you before 4 April 2024.
- You have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since that date (without switching to a different visa category in between).
If you meet these conditions, you can benefit from these transitional rules for any extension or ‘update’ application you make before 4 April 2030.
The Lower Salary Requirement Explained
If you are eligible for the transitional arrangements, you do not need to meet the new, high general threshold of £41,700. Instead, your salary must be equal to or higher than the highest of the following two figures:
- A general salary threshold of £31,300 per year.
- The specific ‘lower going rate’ for your particular occupation code.
How it Works:
Every occupation code has its own ‘lower going rate’ which is published in the official Home Office tables. You must check this specific rate. For example, if the lower going rate for your job is £32,500, then your salary must be at least £32,500 (as this is higher than the £31,300 general threshold).
It’s important to note that these going rates are updated periodically, and your salary will need to meet the updated rate each time you apply for a new visa.
Qualifying with an Even Lower Salary: Tradeable Points under Transitional Rules
Even under these transitional rules, there are further concessions available through the ‘tradeable points’ system. If your salary is at least £25,000 per year, you may still be able to qualify if you meet specific criteria.
If Your Job is on the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
If your occupation code is listed on the ISL, you must be paid at least £25,000 per year or your job’s full (not lower) going rate, whichever is higher.
If You are a ‘New Entrant’ (e.g., Under 26 or a Recent Graduate)
You can be paid 70% of the ‘lower going rate’ for your job, as long as your salary is at least £25,000 per year.
- Important Limitation: Your total stay in the UK on a Skilled Worker, Tier 2, and/or Graduate visa cannot exceed 4 years if you use this concession.
If You Have a Relevant PhD Qualification
- STEM PhD: You can be paid 80% of the ‘lower going rate’ if your salary is at least £25,000 per year.
- Non-STEM PhD: You can be paid 90% of the ‘lower going rate’ if your salary is at least £28,200 per year.
If You Have a Postdoctoral Position
In certain scientific and higher education roles, you can be paid 70% of the ‘lower going rate’ if your salary is at least £25,000 per year.
- Important Limitation: Your total stay is limited to 4 years if you use this concession.
Why Expert Guidance on Transitional Rules is Crucial
The UK’s immigration system is now a complex, multi-layered framework with different rules for different cohorts of applicants. Applying the wrong salary threshold to your application is a simple but fatal error. Our specialist immigration advisors remove all guesswork and risk.
- We conduct a full visa history check to confirm your eligibility for the transitional arrangements.
- We perform a precise salary calculation using the correct ‘lower going rate’ tables that apply to your specific case.
- We assess your eligibility for all available ‘tradeable points’ concessions to ensure you can qualify with the lowest possible salary.
- We liaise with your employer to ensure your new Certificate of Sponsorship correctly reflects your eligibility under these more favourable rules.
The transitional rules are a vital protection for your continued right to work in the UK. Ensure you benefit from them fully. Contact our expert Skilled Worker visa team today for a comprehensive assessment of your extension or update application.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.